5 Quick Things #256 š»
lotsa kids, commonplace books, creative resistance, and IRELAND
Hello there,
I hope your week was uneventful in all the right ways! It was our schoolās fall break, so aside from a literal one-day trip (as in, I didnāt even spend the night) out of state
to do some filming for a project, Iāve been home laying low. Iām in decluttering mode, so Iāve sorted through my way-too-tall kidsā clothes that no longer fit, redundant cleaning products that only take up space, and picture frames that have been stacked in our bedroom corner for far too long. It felt really good. Now for the other 2,834 other items to relinquish.Iāve also been working on a short ghost story, grading essays, and ā¦unveiling my trip for next summer! Iām so thrilled to invite you to join us on The Celtic Way, our summer 2023 pilgrimage to Ireland. More details below! Truly, you wonāt want to miss it.

5 Quick Things āļø
1.Ā She never wanted kids, but number six is now on the way. āIām not trying to single handedly repopulate the Earth over here. Having kids, especially lots of them, is now counter-cultural; itās so far outside the norm that Iām used to random strangers commenting every time weāre all out in public. But itās the most fulfilling expression of hope and belief in the future.ā
2.Ā Creativity is hard, and when hard stares at us in the face, it feels easier to clean the fridge or empty the inbox. Thatās not always bad, but when those menial tasks rob us of our creative energy, itās demoralizing. I resonated deeply with this and needed to hear it: āā¦We were made for more than what is busy and what is safe.ā
3. I learned from this piece that my daughterās future university has a scholarship for students willing to relinquish their smartphone. Iām intrigued! āFor more than a decade we have been running a vast social experiment to see whether the benefits of smart phones outweigh the costs. We have largely let this experiment be waged on our kids, who are in their most formative years, and who can scarcely remember life any other way.ā
4.Ā Hereās inspiration + practical tips for keeping your own Commonplace Book (the namesake practice of this newsletter!).
5.Ā And finally, this week I re-listened to The Great Divorce and The Abolition of Man by CS Lewis and was reminded that these are 1. some of my favorite short books and 2. some of Lewisā most misunderstood (especially the latter). Hereās a great primer on The Abolition of Man if youāve ever been intimidated (or confused) by it. In my opinion, that short book is required reading for us all.
Currently Reading, Watching, Listening šš§
Quotable š¬
āEveryone thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.ā
ā Leo TolstoyĀ #
Which Food Must Go? š„Ŗ
This was admittedly a tough one for me, too... But if I had to choose, Iād be with the majority of you. I canāt imagine a life without tacos.
Find this weekās poll here.
The Celtic Way š®šŖ
Join me and my husband Kyle next summer as we pilgrimage through Ireland! From July 15-25, 2023 weāll explore this island together. Itās more adventurous and outdoorsy than my recent Italy pilgrimage (but weāll still stay in genuinely nice hotels), and itās hands-on with our planned experiences (Sheepdog farming? Scone-making class? Whiskey tasting? Traditional dance lessons? Live music in the home of a local? YES PLEASE.) ā¦and itās family-friendly. Yep! My kids are going on this one, and yours can too, if you like.
Iām hoping for another motley crue of pilgrims, just like what organically happened on our summer ā22 pilgrimage: young and older, single and married, religious and not, seasoned travelers and first-time abroad newbies. All are welcome, so long as you embrace a laid-back adventure style of travel! And youāre willing to learn about yourself, the world, and your place in it.
Quick Links š
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Question(s) For You to Ponder⦠š¤
One year from now, what actions will you be glad you took today?
Have a good weekend,
Tsh
p.s. A new loading icon.
As I read this, I realized this isnāt interesting to many of you who live in smaller states, such as those in New England. Itās rather rare here in Texas.
As FUS alum and people growing increasingly luddite as time goes on, my husband and I were so excited when we heard about that scholarship! My husband was even more stoked to realize that the couple who spearheaded the scholarship are fellow musical artists with whom he has spent some time. In case you've never listened to them...: http://www.hopeandjustin.com/